Book 1 Chapter 864

864.

Chelsea advanced, gripping her staff.

A single question still swirled in her mind.

'Can I fight a Legion Commander alone?'

Legion Commander.

Beings who reigned over Tartarus.

Each and every one of them were cataclysmic demons that made the world tremble in fear.

Over the past 5,000 years, the world had subjugated many Legion Commanders.

As it was an era of heroes, there were many beings capable of subjugating Legion Commanders.

However, only a very few heroes could face a demon of Legion Commander caliber alone.

And more heroes had lost their lives in battles against Legion Commanders than the number of Legion Commanders that were subjugated.

'There were times when simply surviving a fight against a Legion Commander was considered an achievement.'

Originally, they were nightmare monsters whose mere names evoked fear.

Chelsea's ability to remain resolute before such Legion Commanders was largely due to Leo's influence.

But Chelsea was not Leo.

Moreover, she had to face a Legion Commander alone.

However, there was something that frightened Chelsea more than fighting a Legion Commander.

'My future self… how strong has she become?'

Chelsea's current form was a projection of her future self.

Chelsea's power had also grown in accordance with that form.

'It's a projection… but it was said to be a world where one of the future possibilities was realized, right?'

A world where Leo completely subjugated Erebus.

Chelsea's grip tightened on the staff in her hand.

The greatest driving force that made Chelsea Lewallen who she was today was 'admiration for someone.'

Up until a year ago, Chelsea was like a small baby bird in its nest.

The reason Chelsea enrolled in Lumern was because of Abad.

Her intelligent and kind older brother.

In Chelsea's eyes, Abad was like the heroes from fairy tales.

She considered herself lucky to have been born into the same family as a direct descendant of Lewallen.

'I want my brother to become a great hero.'

This was naturally a dream Chelsea had held since childhood.

Because of this, Chelsea received both affirmation and concern from the people of the Lewallen family.

The affirmation was that Chelsea would never threaten the position of the family head.

The age difference between the two siblings was only two years.

If Abad lacked ability, perhaps.

But he had firmly secured his position as heir from a young age with his outstanding genius and charisma.

It was quite different from Zerdinger, a rival heroic noble family within the same empire.

Zerdinger also had two talented direct descendants, Lis and Celia, but there was a considerable age gap between them.

Lewallen was immense.

Although they were subjects of the empire, their status and family power were comparable to that of an entire nation.

Therefore, if there was a strong contender for the heir, the family could be shaken, even if there were direct descendants who had secured their positions.

Many heroic noble families, though prosperous, had disappeared into the annals of history.

Long history and the continuation of a family were not the same.

The issue of succession was always a problem for noble families, no matter the era.

However, Chelsea had shown from a young age that she had no desire for the position of family head.

But conversely, this also meant that Chelsea's talent was so outstanding that it could shake the firmly established heir position.

This was the Lewallen family's concern.

Chelsea's talent was equal to Abad's.

In childhood, the difference of one or two years was significant.

But as they grew older, that gap quickly narrowed.

Despite having the talent to stand alongside Abad, Chelsea's position was always right behind Abad's.

As if that was her place.

She merely admired Abad from a step behind.

Naturally, she was evaluated as one step below Celia, who was considered an equal to Abad within the same empire.

Although Chelsea was famous for being rivals with Celia and felt competitive towards her, she could not achieve equal footing with Celia.

Thus, Chelsea became a major concern for the family.

When the Lewallen family was agonizing over whether her talent would be buried.

It was Leo who appeared before Chelsea.

The first person who captured her attention besides Abad in her entire life.

A person who seemed like a perfect hero, whom she came to admire.

Chelsea began to follow Leo.

Fortunately, Abad also followed Leo.

If the direction was the same, there was no need to change.

When she became a freshman at Lumern.

Artian had asked about the students' goals.

Celia dreamed of becoming a knight surpassing her family's knights, and Abad dreamed of becoming a great archmage who protected the empire's citizens.

Celia, as a member of the Zerdinger family.

Abad, his grand dream as the head of Lewallen.

'I want to help my brother!'

Chelsea's goal was the smallest among the freshmen.

But Chelsea didn't care.

Abad had a great dream.

Therefore, she thought helping that dream was also a great thing.

Chelsea just watched the backs of those she admired from a step behind.

And a year later, when Leo tried to break the spirits of the hero candidates.

Chelsea was the weakest to crumble.

'Chelsea. Isn't it time for you to soar too?'

Abad, who was in a different dormitory, looked at Chelsea with a pained expression after helping her.

'Chelsea. Run away.'

Celia, who was in the same dormitory but was her rival, sincerely worried about Chelsea.

Both of them knew that Chelsea at that time could absolutely not challenge Leo.

They knew she couldn't even resist.

It was from then on.

She decided to stop just admiring.

Possibilities opened up.

The girl who achieved explosive growth became a mage finding her own path.

Of course, she hadn't settled on her path.

She hadn't stopped admiring either.

Chelsea's goal was still to help Abad.

But that was no longer Chelsea's everything.

It was just one of many goals.

That's why, now, when she had become one of the many possible futures she could become.

Chelsea was afraid.

'My future self… was she truly able to help Leo Ouba achieve his goal?'

No matter how terrifying the Legion Commander before her was, he was insignificant compared to Leo's goal.

Therefore, for Chelsea, whose goal was to help Leo move forward without falling by his side, he had to be an enemy she could overcome.

"Huh?"

Seneor's gaze fell on Chelsea.

The corners of his mouth twitched.

It wasn't a smile.

It was fighting spirit and a lust for battle filled with madness.

"Our lovely baby bird has arrived?"

"Baby bird?"

Chelsea tilted her head.

"Yes. You looked like a baby bird fluttering away earlier."

Seneor grinned, making flapping motions with both hands.

"Our baby bird seems to be lacking the strength to fight me, Seneor, just yet? Why not bring the Light Annihilator or the Preparer?"

"Kal has risen in status. To name Kal in my stead."

Chelsea exclaimed in admiration.

But then she smiled sweetly and pointed her staff at Seneor.

"But I'll handle you. I'm stronger than Kal."

"It's heartbreaking to pluck a flower that hasn't bloomed yet… But I can't control my strength right now?"

WHOOSH-! CRASH-!

Seneor swung his arm.

At the same time, a giant scythe appeared and slashed right next to Chelsea.

If the scythe had swung just a little to the side, Chelsea would have been cleaved in two and died.

But even so, Chelsea didn't bat an eye.

"Are you scared?"

"No, I knew you wouldn't hit me."

"Oh?"

It was as she said.

She felt the flow of the wind.

And she could see the path of the attack within that wind.

Chelsea herself was a little surprised.

Her magic hadn't just grown stronger.

'If one masters wind magic to its limit… they can see even to this world.'

The moment she thought of battle, countless things began to be perceived.

'Can I wield this power?'

It had become so strong that she could hardly believe it was her own power.

'Wind Sword.'

As a Battle Mage, Chelsea's specialty was close combat.

Her melee combat ability was so outstanding that she could win against most students from the Knight Department in close combat.

She gathered wind at the tip of her toes.

Then, she pointed the fist-sized magic staff in her left hand at Seneor.

She quickly chanted a spell.

"Raphael."

One of Lewallen's secret magics.

A giant gust of wind instantly engulfed and tore apart Seneor.

CRASH-!

"Ahahahaha! Not bad!"

Seneor swung his scythe, his eyes gleaming.

"Ugh?!"

CLANG-!

Chelsea deflected Seneor's attack with a nascent sword of wind in her right hand.

WHOOSH-!

For a moment, Chelsea was sent flying.

'I'm having trouble controlling my strength!'

Thinking she would crash into the large trees behind her, Chelsea squeezed her eyes shut.

"Wind Shield!"

BANG! CRASH-! CRACKLE-!

Chelsea was sent flying, felling countless trees.

Seneor unleashed dark magic towards the flying Chelsea.

WHOOSH-!

A dark crimson magic circle appeared in the air.

When Seneor snapped his fingers, a blade of wind swept towards where Chelsea had flown.

CRASH-!

Ground, rocks, and trees were sharply sliced.

But Seneor's attack didn't end there.

WHOOSH-!

A giant circle appeared in the sky.

"What kind of magic is that?"

When Kal showed a surprised expression, Leo said calmly.

"A curse."

"What?"

"From what I can see, it looks like a curse that makes everything within range heavy."

"Then isn't it somewhat advantageous for Chelsea? If you send heavy objects flying with wind, the physical force increases."

Kal, who knew the power of Chelsea's wind magic well, tilted his head. Melina shook her head.

"No. Curses aren't simply that concept."

"Huh?"

"High-level curses affect concepts. For an object to become heavy, there needs to be a process of becoming heavy. But with high-level curses, there is no process, only the result."

"That's incredibly difficult. So, it just feels heavy?"

"That's an easy way to put it."

In that case, it was disadvantageous for Chelsea.

Wind magic's advantage was its speed.

"Shouldn't we help?"

"…"

Despite Kal's words, Leo merely watched the battle in silence.

***

"Ouch!"

BOOM-!

A powerful sense of weight pressed down on her entire body.

'A curse?'

Chelsea's face contorted.

'Can I break it?'

"Since your specialty seems to be wind attacks, I'll deal with you with wind."

Seneor said with a smile.

WHOOSH-!

As Seneor swung his hand, a blade of wind flew to tear Chelsea apart.

Chelsea quickly chanted "Inferno Wind."

WHOOSH-!

Wind collided with wind, creating a powerful storm.

'This is just a strong but foolish person!'

Chelsea bit her lip tightly.

Other than her magic power having increased, nothing else had changed.

'How on earth should I…!'

It was useless if she couldn't make this power her own.

As Chelsea became impatient, someone's image flashed through her mind.

"Now! Next attack!"

Seneor grinned and swung his scythe, creating a whirlwind.

The whirlwind moved at tremendous speed to blow Chelsea away.

At that moment-

Rustle-

"……?"

The whirlwind turned into a gentle breeze in front of Chelsea.

'The greatest strength of wind is not its speed.'

Chelsea closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

'It's its capriciousness.'

Wind is fickle.

Blowing here, then blowing there.

Wind is free, its direction unpredictable.

And being free also means being able to become anything.

Chelsea's lips curved upwards.

It was the smile of someone she admired.

The moment Seneor saw that smile, he felt an inexplicable anger welling up from the depths of his chest.

For some reason, he disliked that smile.

Seneor swung his scythe, his weapon, once again.

CRASH-!

It felt like a typhoon was raging around them.

He controlled the surrounding wind to kill Chelsea.

Chelsea raised her staff.

Then, a gentle breeze blew from the tip of her staff.

Eventually, the gentle breeze swallowed the typhoon and calmed it.

"What did you do?"

"I just… imitated someone."

"Imitated?"

Someone that 16-year-old Chelsea wouldn't even dare to imitate.

But the current Chelsea could.

In response to Chelsea's words, Seneor, with an annoyed expression, created wind again.

Watching Seneor, Chelsea relayed what the person she imitated had told her before.

"Wind isn't used like that."